United’s contract extension with pilots comes a year early

CHICAGO — United Airlines reached a tentative deal on a contract extension with its 12,000 pilots in a process that historically can be contentious but was completed more than a year early this time.

The agreement announced late Friday with the Air Line Pilots Association, often considered the airline’s most influential union, must be ratified by its member pilots. The airline did not release details on the contract.

“The fact that we were able to reach this agreement in principle in fewer than 30 days is a direct result of the positive, collaborative relationship between ALPA leadership and United,” said Mike Bonds, United executive vice president of human resources and labor relations.

The move came as new CEO Oscar Munoz, out on medical leave until early next year after suffering a heart attack, pledged to improve relations with union workers. He talked about one employee who mentioned to Munoz that he needed to get just two things right — coffee and contracts.

United announced last week that it was changing the coffee brand it served in its airport lounges and onboard its planes to Italian brand Illy from FreshBrew.

Earlier this month, United said it was opening contract negotiations more than a year early with the nearly 30,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers who work in baggage handling, passenger service, reservations and storekeeping.

The airline also promised not to outsource the union’s jobs for the next three-plus years. United on Oct. 23 announced a tentative agreement with technicians, represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

United is also engaged in mediated negotiations with the Association of Flight Attendants, the last major group without a joint contract after the 2010 merger of United and Continental.